The bill will have substantive impacts on the health insurance sector, as it overlays a requirement on both state employee health benefits and various municipal codes to include this type of therapy. Specifically, it updates several existing acts, including the State Employees Group Insurance Act and the Counties Code, bringing them into alignment with the new mandates for health insurance coverage. This change will potentially improve access to alternative therapies for individuals with disabilities, thereby enhancing their quality of life by broadening the therapeutic services covered by insurance.
SB2671 is a bill introduced in the Illinois General Assembly that amends the Illinois Insurance Code to mandate coverage for hippotherapy and other forms of therapeutic riding under both group and individual insurance policies. This legislation aims to ensure that health insurance policies, whether they are managed care or accident and health insurance, provide coverage for these therapeutic practices for individuals with disabilities. The inclusion of hippotherapy is particularly notable as it links physical, occupational, and speech therapy techniques with equine-assisted therapy, expanding the range of therapeutic options available to affected individuals.
While there is no widespread public opposition detailed in the discussions around the bill, some may raise concerns regarding the potential increase in premiums that could result from expanding coverage to include hippotherapy and therapeutic riding. Insurers might argue that the addition of such specialized services could lead to increased cost burdens, which might subsequently affect overall healthcare costs. Nevertheless, proponents of the bill would argue that these therapies provide crucial benefits and may ultimately reduce long-term healthcare costs by improving health outcomes for individuals with disabilities.